Individual Clip
POM polymer clip used along the field of the deck. Snaps onto Start Rails or Mini Rails to receive the grooved board edge.
InvisiClip™ · Grad System
Hidden hardware.
Hidden hardware.
Honest deck.
Powered by the GRAD® system
InvisiClip™ is the hidden fastener system that turns grooved PVC deck boards into a seamless surface. Engineered POM clips snap onto aluminum rails. Boards drop in from above. Nothing reads on the finished deck except the wood-grain you chose.
0 visible
Fasteners on the finished deck surface
16" O.C.
Max joist and rail spacing for our decking
Removable
Boards lift individually with Grad keys
292 psf
Avg. sustained uplift, Intertek AC174
Why hidden fasteners
The clean deck
The clean deck
doesn't show its work.
Top-fastened decks tell on themselves. Every screw head is a future stain ring, a UV halo, a place water can pool. InvisiClip™ puts every fastener underneath the board, where the deck does its hard work without showing it.
Cleaner finish
No screw heads, no plugs, no countersinks. The board surface is exactly as the mill made it.
Faster install
Pre-assembled rails and snap-engagement clips replace driving every individual fastener through the deck face.
Removable boards
Start Rails release individual boards with Grad keys. Replace one board, never the deck.
Built to spec
Dimensionally compatible with the published Grad System install method. Same components, same install logic.
How it works
Rail. Clip.
Rail. Clip.
Drop the board.
Three components and a snap engagement. The same logic that runs the Grad System runs InvisiClip™, because the parts are made to the same dimensional spec.
01
Lay out and fasten the rails
Rails sit on top of each joist, running parallel to the joists. Anchor a Start Rail along every joist at 16 inches on center maximum. The first rail is no more than 4 inches from the deck edge. Drive Type 316 stainless screws or hot-dip galvanized nails through the pre-drilled holes in the rail.
Fastener layout: every 20 inches on Start Rails, every 10 inches on Mini Rails, minimum two per rail.
02
Snap clips into the rail
The InvisiClip™ POM clip seats into the rail's mounting slots and locks into the snap profile. The cradle on top is shaped to receive the grooved edge of the deck board. Once seated, the clip stays put and takes the uplift load instead of the board face.
03
Drop the board from above
The grooved deck board lowers down onto the row of clips. The groove catches each cradle in turn, the board seats flat, and a rubber mallet sets the engagement. No screwing, no plugging, no pre-drilling the deck face.
Need to pull a board later? Use Grad keys on the Start Rails to release the engagement and lift the board cleanly.
Components
Five parts.
Five parts.
One system.
InvisiClip™ ships with the same component set as the Grad System spec, so the parts line up with installer training, install guides, and Grad keys already on the truck.
Half Clip (Fascia)
Half-profile clip used at fascia and finished edges where only one side of the cradle is engaged with a board.
Start Rail / Mini Rail
Pre-fabricated aluminum rail with snap-mount features for the clip and pre-drilled holes for the joist fasteners.
TOP LINK Joiner
Aligns and joins two rails end-to-end so a continuous rail run carries the load across rail seams without telegraphing through the board.
Cushion Clip
Decoupling cushion that isolates the board groove from rail vibration, used in higher-traffic or commercial spans where damping matters.
Grad Keys
Removal keys that release a Start Rail clip's snap engagement so individual deck boards can be lifted out without disturbing neighbors.
Drawings
The clip
The clip
from every side.
Geometry rendered direct from the manufacturing CAD. These are not artist renderings, they are projections of the same solid model that runs through the molding tool.
Front view
Side view
Top view
Specifications
Tested. Tabled.
Tested. Tabled.
Spec ready.
Built to the published Grad System install spec. Engineering data is available on request for spec writers and code review packages.
InvisiClip™ System Specification
| Clip material | POM (engineered polyoxymethylene polymer), unfilled, mold finish |
|---|---|
| Compatible board profile | American Pro grooved PVC decking; any board manufactured to the published Grad System groove profile |
| Joist spacing | 16 in. on center maximum (residential and commercial) |
| Rail layout | One rail on top of every joist, running parallel to the joists; rails are therefore 16 in. on center maximum |
| First rail clearance | Maximum 4 in. from board edge |
| Fastener spacing, Start Rail | Every 20 in., minimum 2 per rail |
| Fastener spacing, Mini Rail | Every 10 in., minimum 2 per rail |
| Recommended screws | Type 316 stainless, #8 or #10, 1.5 in. length (Simpson Strong Tie T08162WPB) |
| Recommended nails | 0.148 in. × 1.5 in. hot-dip galvanized class D (N10D5HDG-R) |
| Removability | Start Rails release individual boards with Grad keys; Mini Rails are fixed, used at board ends and butts |
| Tools required | Safety glasses, gloves, dust mask, laser leveler or chalk line, rubber mallet, pliers, drill or nail gun |
| Spec system | Built to the Grad System component spec for cross-installer compatibility |
Third-Party Testing
Independent uplift testing
Independent uplift testing
by Intertek Building & Construction.
American Pro grooved decking installed with InvisiClip™ technology was submitted to Intertek Building & Construction, an IAS-accredited TL-144 / ISO/IEC 17025 lab, for wind uplift testing under ICC-ES™ AC174 Section 4.1.4 using methods described in ASTM E330. The full report is available for download.
292 psf
Avg. Sustained Uplift
306 psf
Avg. Pressure at Failure
3 of 3
Specimens Tested
AC174
ICC-ES §4.1.4 / ASTM E330
Allowable design ratings under AC174 are derived from these tested values with code-required safety and adjustment factors; see the full Intertek report for the AC174 / NDS allowable load calculation. Confirm current details with American Pro before final order release.
Works with
Two decking lines.
Two decking lines.
One install logic.
Any grooved board cut to the Grad System spec installs on InvisiClip. We extrude Legacy PVC and TrueGrain on the same line with the same groove geometry, so both lines drop straight in. Same joist layout, same 16 in. on center maximum, same removability with Grad keys.
Workhorse decking
Legacy PVC Decking
Six classic solid colors. Same cellular PVC compound as TrueGrain, in a smooth, paintable finish. Grooved profile installs on InvisiClip with zero visible screws.
- Six solid colors, Driftwood through Redwood
- Solid Edge or Grooved profile, same compound
- Same Grad-spec groove geometry as TrueGrain
Driftwood
Khaki
Redwood
Flagship decking
TrueGrain Deck™
Capped cellular PVC with a laminated wood-grain surface. Six hardwood-inspired colors. Grooved profiles install on InvisiClip with no visible screws and individually removable boards.
- Six wood-grain colors, greys through mahogany
- 4-sided ASA capstock, cool-deck formulation
- 25-year limited residential warranty
Coastal Driftwood
Aged Oak
Tropical Walnut
Questions
InvisiClip,
InvisiClip,
answered.
Common questions about the InvisiClip hidden fastener system, the spec it follows, and how it installs.
What is InvisiClip™?
InvisiClip™ is American Pro's hidden fastener system for grooved PVC decking, powered by the Grad System. Engineered POM polymer clips snap onto aluminum rails. The rails sit on top of each joist running parallel to the joists at 16 inches on center maximum. Boards drop in from above so no screws or fasteners show on the finished deck.
What spec does InvisiClip™ follow?
InvisiClip™ follows the Grad System component spec. The clips, rails, and accessories are dimensionally compatible with the published Grad install method. On American Pro decking, joists must be 16 inches on center maximum and a rail sits on top of every joist, so rails are also 16 inches on center maximum. Start Rail and Mini Rail fastener layouts and removability with Grad keys are unchanged.
Are the deck boards removable after install?
Yes. Boards installed on InvisiClip™ Start Rails can be lifted out individually using Grad keys, which release the snap engagement so a single board can be replaced without disturbing the rest of the deck. Mini Rails are a fixed alternative used at board ends.
What screws and nails does InvisiClip™ use?
Type 316 stainless steel screws (#8 or #10, 1.5 inch length, Simpson Strong Tie T08162WPB) for screw fastening, or 0.148 inch by 1.5 inch hot-dip galvanized class D nails (N10D5HDG-R) for nail-gun installation.
Has InvisiClip™ been independently tested for wind uplift?
Yes. American Pro grooved decking installed with InvisiClip™ technology was tested by Intertek Building & Construction (TL-144 IAS-accredited, ISO/IEC 17025) under ICC-ES AC174 Section 4.1.4 using ASTM E330 methods. Three test specimens reached an average ultimate uplift of 306 psf and an average sustained uplift of 292 psf at a 10 second hold before clip release. The full Intertek report R1545.01-119-19 R0 dated 08/05/24 is available for download from the InvisiClip™ page.
Which American Pro decking works with InvisiClip™?
Both decking lines. The same groove geometry is extruded on grooved TrueGrain Deck and grooved Legacy PVC Decking, so InvisiClip™ works with either line using the same clips and rails.
What is the maximum joist spacing for InvisiClip™?
Joists must be 16 inches on center maximum, and a rail sits on top of every joist, so rails run at 16 inches on center maximum as well. This follows the Grad System install method.
Where can I get InvisiClip™ components?
InvisiClip™ clips, rails, and fasteners are supplied alongside American Pro grooved decking. Reach out through the contact form on this page for component details and availability.
Ready to spec or sample
InvisiClip™ on your next deck?
We'll mail you a deck board and short rail section so you can see the engagement in your hand and run it past your installer. Spec sheets, CAD files, and technical data are available on request.
Free Samples
Hold the hardware
Hold the hardware
before you spec it.
We'll mail you an InvisiClip™ and a rail section so you can feel the snap engagement, check the geometry against your boards, and run it past the installer who will actually be on site.
- Real engineered POM clip, not a brochure render
- Cut section of aluminum rail with snap features
- Free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S.
- Optional: grooved deck board sample to test the engagement